Edmond John Fitzmaurice
Encyclopedia
Edmond John Fitzmaurice was an Irish
-born prelate
of the Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Wilmington
from 1925 to 1960.
, County Kerry
, to William and Joan (née Costello) Fitzmaurice. He studied at St. Brendan's College
in Killarney
and at the College of Sint-Truiden
in Belgium
. He continued his studies at the Pontifical North American College
in Rome
, where he earned a Doctor of Sacred Theology
degree. He was ordained
to the priesthood
by Cardinal Pietro Respighi
on May 28, 1904.
Fitzmaurice came to the United States
in 1904, and became a curate
at Annunciation Church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
. He served as professor of theology
at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary
(1906-14) and chancellor
of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia
(1914-20). From 1920 to 1925, he served as rector
of St. Charles Seminary. His uncle, John Edmund Fitzmaurice
, had also served as rector of St. Charles (1886-97) as well as Bishop of Erie
(1899–1920).
On July 24, 1925, Fitzmaurice was appointed the fourth Bishop of Wilmington
, Delaware
, by Pope Pius XI
. He received his episcopal
consecration
on the following November 30 from Cardinal Dennis Dougherty
, with Bishops John Swint
and Andrew Brennan
serving as co-consecrators
. During his 35-year tenure, he oversaw an increase in the Catholic population from 34,000 to 85,000. To accommodate these numbers, he founded 17 new parishes, 8 missions, and 19 elementary and 9 secondary schools. He donated his personal residence in 1959 to provide a location for the founding of St. Edmond's Academy
(which was named in his honor).
Fitzmaurice encouraged participation in Catholic Charities
, and founded the Catholic Welfare Guild, Catholic Youth Organization
, Society for the Propagation of the Faith
, and Knights of Columbus
, as well as the Catholic Interracial Council, Catholic Forum of the Air, Catholic Television Guild, Diocesan Book Forum, Catholic Education Guild, and Young Christian Workers. In 1945, he ordered the Catholic parents of public school students to prohibit their children from attending sex education
courses, which he described as "offensive to the Catholic conscience."
Fitzmaurice retired as Bishop of Wilmington on March 2, 1960. He was appointed Titular Archbishop
of Constantia in Scythia on the same date. He later died at St. Francis Hospital in Wilmington, at age 81.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
-born prelate
Prelate
A prelate is a high-ranking member of the clergy who is an ordinary or who ranks in precedence with ordinaries. The word derives from the Latin prælatus, the past participle of præferre, which means "carry before", "be set above or over" or "prefer"; hence, a prelate is one set over others.-Related...
of the Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Wilmington
Roman Catholic Diocese of Wilmington
-External links:**...
from 1925 to 1960.
Biography
Edmond Fitzmaurice was born in TarbertTarbert, County Kerry
Tarbert is a town in the north of County Kerry, with woodland to the south and the Shannon estuary to the north. It lies on the N69 coast road that runs along the estuary from Limerick before turning inland at Tarbert towards Listowel, and has two schools Tarbert Primary and Tarbert...
, County Kerry
County Kerry
Kerry means the "people of Ciar" which was the name of the pre-Gaelic tribe who lived in part of the present county. The legendary founder of the tribe was Ciar, son of Fergus mac Róich. In Old Irish "Ciar" meant black or dark brown, and the word continues in use in modern Irish as an adjective...
, to William and Joan (née Costello) Fitzmaurice. He studied at St. Brendan's College
St. Brendan's, Killarney
St. Brendan's, Killarney, known locally as The Sem, is a secondary school in Killarney, County Kerry, Ireland.-History:St. Brendan’s is a Catholic Diocesan College, founded in 1860 by Bishop David Moriarty as a boarding and day-school for boys under the name of ‘ St. Brendan’s Seminary’. The first...
in Killarney
Killarney
Killarney is a town in County Kerry, southwestern Ireland. The town is located north of the MacGillicuddy Reeks, on the northeastern shore of the Lough Lein/Leane which are part of Killarney National Park. The town and its surrounding region are home to St...
and at the College of Sint-Truiden
Sint-Truiden
Sint-Truiden is a city and municipality located in the province of Limburg, Flemish Region, Belgium, near the towns of Hasselt and Tongeren. The municipality includes the old communes of Aalst, Brustem, Duras, Engelmanshoven, Gelinden, Gorsem, Groot-Gelmen, Halmaal, Kerkom-bij-Sint-Truiden,...
in Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
. He continued his studies at the Pontifical North American College
Pontifical North American College
The Pontifical North American College is a Roman Catholic educational institution in Rome, Italy educating seminarians for the dioceses in the United States and providing a residence for American priests studying in Rome. It was founded in 1859 by Blessed Pope Pius IX and was granted pontifical...
in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, where he earned a Doctor of Sacred Theology
Doctor of Sacred Theology
The Doctor of Sacred Theology is the final theological degree in the pontifical university system of the Catholic Church....
degree. He was ordained
Holy Orders
The term Holy Orders is used by many Christian churches to refer to ordination or to those individuals ordained for a special role or ministry....
to the priesthood
Priesthood (Catholic Church)
The ministerial orders of the Catholic Church include the orders of bishops, deacons and presbyters, which in Latin is sacerdos. The ordained priesthood and common priesthood are different in function and essence....
by Cardinal Pietro Respighi
Pietro Respighi
Pietro Respighi S.T.D. JUD was an Italian Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church and Archpriest of the Basilica of St. John Lateran.He was born in Bologna and received the sacrament of confirmation in November 1850...
on May 28, 1904.
Fitzmaurice came to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1904, and became a curate
Curate
A curate is a person who is invested with the care or cure of souls of a parish. In this sense "curate" correctly means a parish priest but in English-speaking countries a curate is an assistant to the parish priest...
at Annunciation Church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. He served as professor of theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary
St. Charles Borromeo Seminary
St. Charles Borromeo Seminary is the seminary of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Named for Charles Borromeo, it is located in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania,...
(1906-14) and chancellor
Chancellor (ecclesiastical)
Two quite distinct officials of some Christian churches have the title Chancellor.*In some churches, the Chancellor of a diocese is a lawyer who represents the church in legal matters....
of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in southeastern Pennsylvania, in the United States. It covers the City and County of Philadelphia as well as Bucks, Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery counties. The diocese was...
(1914-20). From 1920 to 1925, he served as rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
of St. Charles Seminary. His uncle, John Edmund Fitzmaurice
John Edmund Fitzmaurice
John Edmund Fitzmaurice was the fourth Roman Catholic Bishop of Erie .Fitzmaurice was born in Newtown-Sandes, County Kerry, and began studying law at age fifteen. In 1858 he came to the United States, where he began his studies for the priesthood at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Overbrook,...
, had also served as rector of St. Charles (1886-97) as well as Bishop of Erie
Roman Catholic Diocese of Erie
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Erie is a Roman Catholic diocese in western Pennsylvania. It was founded on July 29, 1853. It is one of seven suffragan sees in Pennsylvania that make up the Ecclesiastical Province of Philadelphia, which is headed by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia.-...
(1899–1920).
On July 24, 1925, Fitzmaurice was appointed the fourth Bishop of Wilmington
Roman Catholic Diocese of Wilmington
-External links:**...
, Delaware
Delaware
Delaware is a U.S. state located on the Atlantic Coast in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It is bordered to the south and west by Maryland, and to the north by Pennsylvania...
, by Pope Pius XI
Pope Pius XI
Pope Pius XI , born Ambrogio Damiano Achille Ratti, was Pope from 6 February 1922, and sovereign of Vatican City from its creation as an independent state on 11 February 1929 until his death on 10 February 1939...
. He received his episcopal
Bishop (Catholic Church)
In the Catholic Church, a bishop is an ordained minister who holds the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders and is responsible for teaching the Catholic faith and ruling the Church....
consecration
Consecration
Consecration is the solemn dedication to a special purpose or service, usually religious. The word "consecration" literally means "to associate with the sacred". Persons, places, or things can be consecrated, and the term is used in various ways by different groups...
on the following November 30 from Cardinal Dennis Dougherty
Dennis Joseph Dougherty
Dennis Joseph Dougherty was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Archbishop of Philadelphia from 1918 until his death in 1951, and was created a cardinal in 1921.-Early life and education:...
, with Bishops John Swint
John Joseph Swint
John Joseph Swint was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Wheeling from 1922 until his death in 1962.-Biography:...
and Andrew Brennan
Andrew James Louis Brennan
Andrew James Louis Brennan was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Richmond from 1926 to 1945.-Biography:...
serving as co-consecrators
Consecrator
Consecrator is a term used in the Roman Catholic Church to designate a bishop who ordains a priest to the episcopal state. The term is often used in Eastern Rite Churches and in Anglican communities. The term "Principal Consecrator" is used to designate the primary bishop who ordains a new bishop...
. During his 35-year tenure, he oversaw an increase in the Catholic population from 34,000 to 85,000. To accommodate these numbers, he founded 17 new parishes, 8 missions, and 19 elementary and 9 secondary schools. He donated his personal residence in 1959 to provide a location for the founding of St. Edmond's Academy
St. Edmond's Academy
St. Edmond's Academy is a Catholic secondary school for boys founded by the Brothers of the Holy Cross in Wilmington, Delaware, USA in 1959. The school's patron saint is Blessed Brother Andre Bessette C.S.C. The school is well known for its rigorous academic standards and its competitive sports...
(which was named in his honor).
Fitzmaurice encouraged participation in Catholic Charities
Catholic Charities
Catholic Charities is a network of charities whose aim is "to provide service to people in need, to advocate for justice in social structures, and to call the entire church and other people of good will to do the same." It is one of the largest charities in the United States...
, and founded the Catholic Welfare Guild, Catholic Youth Organization
Catholic Youth Organization
A Catholic Youth Organization is an organization for young Catholics. Usually each group uses the church for meeting and gathering, although some have their own premises. It was initiated by Bishop Bernard J...
, Society for the Propagation of the Faith
Society for the Propagation of the Faith
The Society for the Propagation of the Faith is an international association for the assistance by prayers and alms of Catholic missionary priests, brothers, and nuns engaged in preaching the Gospel in non-Catholic countries...
, and Knights of Columbus
Knights of Columbus
The Knights of Columbus is the world's largest Catholic fraternal service organization. Founded in the United States in 1882, it is named in honor of Christopher Columbus....
, as well as the Catholic Interracial Council, Catholic Forum of the Air, Catholic Television Guild, Diocesan Book Forum, Catholic Education Guild, and Young Christian Workers. In 1945, he ordered the Catholic parents of public school students to prohibit their children from attending sex education
Sex education
Sex education refers to formal programs of instruction on a wide range of issues relating to human sexuality, including human sexual anatomy, sexual reproduction, sexual intercourse, reproductive health, emotional relations, reproductive rights and responsibilities, abstinence, contraception, and...
courses, which he described as "offensive to the Catholic conscience."
Fitzmaurice retired as Bishop of Wilmington on March 2, 1960. He was appointed Titular Archbishop
Titular bishop
A titular bishop in various churches is a bishop who is not in charge of a diocese.By definition a bishop is an "overseer" of a community of the faithful, so when a priest is ordained a bishop the tradition of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches is that he be ordained for a specific place...
of Constantia in Scythia on the same date. He later died at St. Francis Hospital in Wilmington, at age 81.